Thursday, October 15, 2009

Un.be.liev.a.ble

(This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Samsung Home Appliances)

Well I have to admit that I have been spoiled rotten.

And I'm not ashamed to say so.

The folks over at Samsung were generous enough to ask a few of us bloggers to review some of their products. I hesitated, because really, who would want a FREE washer and dryer?

Oh wait.

I would.

And so would the other eight people living with me.

So this morning as the shiny Lowes truck pulled up, I did a happy dance in my front yard (in my pajamas) and took a few dozen pictures of them unloading it and wheeling it into my house. The delivery men were fairly certain I had lost my mind, but that didn't stop me. I even made sure the floor was spotless before they set them in their places.

Sidebar: What happens under a washer and dryer over several years of use is seriously disgusting. Seriously.

They slid them into place and I realized I was hopping up and down. I may have hugged them. I'm not sure, it's all a platinum-colored blur.

And now I get to tell you all about them (the washer and dryer, not the delivery men, who were also very nice), which I am more than happy to do because in the 12 hours I have known them, they feel like family. I am tempted to eat my meals, change my clothes, apply makeup, and host Christmas parties in my laundry room because they are seriously the prettiest things I own. They even have the little pedestals so you are right at the perfect level to put in your laundry. I would know. I may or may not have washed clean clothes just for the chance to be near them for a few minutes.

I was freaking out over the fact that there were so many buttons when I first got them, but they are as easy as you can imagine. They even have wrinkle guard, steam, stain treating features and on and on. It's all computerized on these little screens and it is totally self-explanatory. They are really well designed.

Have I mentioned I am in love?

They may need names.

I'm thinking I'm going to be the only reviewer who names my appliances, but don't hold it against me. If you met them you would do the same.

So they're pretty. And they're shockingly easy to use. And they can wash and dry about 3 times as much as my last washer and dryer. And all of my clothes came out spot and wrinkle free, and as a bonus (I'm serious), the dryer plays a song when your laundry is done.

It has become a Smith/Hamilton ritual to dance and bob our heads at this point.

And then we run and find anything else we can shove in there just for fun. And for the record, I could easily wash all of my king sized bedding in one load. Candice told me that when she opened the dryer to get her sheets out today, they came out folded in a plastic bag with tags. It isn't as far from the truth as you might think :)

I'm not going to lie to you. I probably wouldn't have bought these myself because I would never have spent this much on appliances, but the truth is that I CANNOT believe how great they are. Things are tough economically right now, and I know that not everyone can run out and spend this kind of money, but if you can (or even if you were looking for some incentive to save up) I would completely recommend these to you. I would have started setting aside money if I had known there could really be this much difference, because it's saving me money on my bills and chopping hours out of my day.

And, they double as a dining room table.

At least, they will when I serve Thanksgiving dinner on them in a few months.

And I don't want to leave them in there alone for too long. They're new here, you know? And it's dark. I might pump in soothing music for them tonight so they rest well.

Because come morning, they are going to be busy.

But you don't think I would ever leave you all out of the fun, do you?

Of course not.

If you want to enter to win a $200 Best Buy gift card, just leave a comment on this post between today (10/15/09) and 11/15/09 (by 5:00P.M.) telling me which appliance would make your life easier. You are welcome to leave a link to your blog, and make SURE that the email address you leave is correct.

Here are some rules for you:

~no duplicate comments

~you may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments

~giveaway open to US residents age 18 and older only

~winners will be selected via random draw and will be notified by email

~you have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected

Wow! That's awesome! I would have to say that a new washer and dryer would be great! We had serious buyers' remorse after buying ours several years ago and while we still have the dryer (which isn't energy efficient), we are getting ready to put in our third washer (used - we feel very blessed to have been given it).

I think a new fridge would be nice since the ice machine on mine is broken. Then again, there are such things as ice cube trays if I really need to make ice. So, a new washer and dryer would be really fun. Any new appliance, actually, is fun and $200 sure would help :o)Very fun contest (and enjoy your washer and dryer...I bet that helps tremendously considering the number of people living in your house!)iloveblogs44 (at) gmail (dot) com

I am stoked about this giveaway and hope to win!!! I think if I had a self-cleaning oven that would be awesome!! My oven works fine except for when it's time to clean the bad boy...it stinks! Oven cleaner is just horrible to work with...and having to scrub all the grease out by hand is back breaking! But, I shouldn't complain...right!?

Your story is still so funny, even the second time around! I'm still doin' the happy dance with you. It's a toss up between my dryer that can't seem to dry in one cycle anymore, and my fridge that has a broken ice dispenser, which is a big deal because I use lots of ice with my water.

Wow, do those things cook you dinner also? How fancy are they. I would really like a pair of those but I will settle for a new dishwasher. The one we have is about 15-20 years old and we need a new one desperatly. This contest is great!

I could really use a new washer and dryer since my dryer is at least 15 years old and you have to dry most loads twice and with my washer after it runs the wash cycle in order for it to rinse and drain you have to go hit the sensor on the lid to finish...oh and my fabric softner dispenser is broke and the bleach dispenser will leak bleach onto my floor if you put bleach in it! But they still run...knock on wood...lol!!!My email is saraw67026@yahoo.com

I really need a new washer and dryer. The timer on my dryer doesn't work, therefore the dryer won't stop until you stop it yourself. That can make for a bad accident if you leave the house and forget about the clothes that are drying. Not to mention both of my appliances are almost 12 years old.

How wonderful for you to experience such great products, I can not complain about any of my appliances at this time altho my washer is at least 15 years old it still does the job, but I could do some good with a Best Buy certificate, my Son in law just lost his job as a pastor and they have three kids (3,5,8) so that's where it will go if I win.

I could really use a dryer...the dryer I currently use takes at least 2 cycles (sometimes 3 or 4) to get the load dry. It usually runs an hour-hour and a half per cycle! It would be such a blessing to receive $200 towards a new one!

They sound wonderful! I am not sure what appliance I would want. I don't have a stand mixer, or a video camera, so either of those would be nice. I also need a new regular camera, since mine is currently being held together with tape. It's so sad.Thanks for the chance to win!

FINALLY!!! :) I have been IMPATIENTLY awaiting the re-posting! :) So, here I am. I want to win. Let's see...of course the W/D would make my life easier...but...as far as what $200 could buy...hmmm. Not so sure what I would get! Anything would make my life easier! :)

A food processor or hand blender would make my life easier! I burned our handheld mixer up last week while making pies for a local ministry banquet. But my buff kid sister was around and willingly whipped my filling - saved!

My mom and I just had a family move in with us - just today! A family of 6 ... mom, dad, and 4 kids age 18 months to 6th grade! So really, at this point we could use any new appliace to make life easier. The thing that would probably be the most help would be a second wash machine ... 8 people using the same one?? It's going to be worn out!!! :)

I was afraid I'd trapped my cat in the dryer the other day, until she came out wondering what that horrible noise was, so a dryer is definitely something I need right now. Your new appliances definitely need names. Perhaps you should have a contest!

What a great thing for you. I really would love a new stove. For three years, I have been without one burner on my stove and to top that, it's one of the big burners. Had it repaired and it blew immediately so just haven't repaired it. Would love to get a new one.

WOW! That's amazing! I'm happy for you and your new friends! :) And a new appliance I need? Gosh... there are just so many at this poing that I could replace, though thankfully they're all still hanging in there! :) I'd have to go with the washing machine.

i don't really need anything, but i'd probably look for a tv for my bedroom since i'm laid up so much and it's a teeny 13 inch screen clear across the room. on the other hand, forcing myself out of bed to get to the better tv room could be considered physical therapy :)

Between a washer and a dryer I'd have to pick dryer. Our current one seems to have two settings, super high heat...and NO heat! But overall, I'd love a new fridge, freezer on the bottom, with a water and ice dispenser!

You're a lucky girl! I would love a new dishwasher. When we moved into our new-to-us house we were lucky to get stainless steel appliances. The dishwasher doesn't work as well as I would like though, or as well as our old one. We have to rinse the dishes for them to come out clean (which really isn't eco friendly), it doesn't fit nearly as many dishes in a load as our old one, it's loud as all get out, and the bottom rack is so wimpy that when I put big pots or my crockpot ceramic on it, it tips back and wants to get stuck. So, I would love a powerful new dishwasher!

In need of a new oven...our glass front to our oven SHATTERED into little bits of glass everywhere last Sunday night and the manufacturer stopped making parts for our particular oven in 2007! Fun times searching for a new glass front and/or door! :)

Does a Kitchen Aid mixer count as an appliance? Because all of my "big" appliances are in working order, but I am KICKING myself for not registering for a good mixer when we got married 4 1/2 years ago. Would LOVE to own one, but don't see myself splurging...that is, unless I won a gift card! Thanks for the opportunity!

Oh Angie, I am j.eal.ous! They are so pretty. And the cubic footage! Oh the jeans they could wash... and could easily handle the towels of my entire family! Sigh...With the $200 I would love, love, love a food processor. Oh the chopping, mixing, the baking love that would go on in my kitchen at blazingly faster speeds than the current situation!!Enjoy you new best friends!

I would love a steam iron. I am not sure if that is an "appliance" per se, but I HATE ironing.. and HATE is such a strong word... but I don't like it... A LOT. I would love that little gadget that you can hang your shirt on and wave that magic steam wand and volia... your wrinkles are gone. I would LOVE that! Although, I am not sure you can get it at best buy... I am sure my hubby could find something to purchase there that he would say we "need" :o)

Ok it would be so nice to have a new washing machine that I didnt have to respin and respin before putting clothes into the dryer. Oh and a new dryer that I didnt have to start over and start over to get the clothes dry in. But hey a 200 Best Buy gift card would be so great too!

I'm in need of a refrigerator (it leaks and I keep having to adjust temp) AND a washer (it stops mid-cycle until I hit it LOL), but if I have to pick one I'll go for the refrigerator. A food blogger should pick a refrigerator, right? ;-)

A new dishwasher would make my life easier at this point. I currently have to prewash my dishes before they go in and I wash three loads per day so that is a lot of time in front of the sink. Anyway, great review and fun giveaway!

I think that a new washer and dryer would make my life a heck of a lot easier, especially considering we don't have a working one right now. Or maybe a bigger refridgerator. Wait, does a car count as an appliance?

haha. I love Samsung, and have since they were my first phone! I have a Samsung phone now, and it has held up extraordinarily well to my attempts to murder it. It even survived a mud puddle for two hours AFTER being ran over by my car.

I really need either a new over the range microwave or a new range hood. My current range hood is an absolute disaster. The small fire I lit in my stove several months ago didn't help. I don't care which version I get - the microwave version or the hood version - but whatever it is needs to be shiny and effective at sucking disgustingness out of the air.

I could use just about anything. We're moving in a few weeks into a rental house. The folks that own the house are friends of ours and currently it has no appliances. So I'm sure they wouldn't mind if I put a $200 gift card toward a fridge or a dishwasher or an oven :)

Oh my, what a wonderful treat! maybe you should take a video of you doing easy laundry so we can live vicariously through you.

So many appliances I could not live without....but right now, what I'd like most is a great double oven. constantly having to rotate out dishes when we have friends over or I'm cooking for the holidays is a pain. It's a very thought-out, watchful cooking dance I've come to loathe.

Then again, a new washer and dryer would be just lovely, since ours is on the brink. After years of being overworked, having its limits tested, surviving military cross-country moves, and even having the occasional toy (mr. potato head has NEVER looked better) thrown in for good measure, our machines now croak loudly when put to work. I think Martha would agree with me when I say no washer and dryer with 3 children is NOT a good thing.

We could really use a new washer and dryer. We have never owned a new appliance. We have had to replace both our washer and dryer in the past 16 months but not with gorgeous new ones. Instead, we have 12 year old appliances from my father-in-law's old rental property. I am grateful and thankful that we are actually able to wash and dry our clothes but one day, I'd love to own a set of brand new shiny appliances. Thanks for the giveaway!

Awesome! We are moving to a new house in Feb that has no fridge! So that would be nice. But a washer and dryer like that sounds amazing! I am going to start saving my pennies! I never know what to buy so this will help me decide on a brand!

I would really love to have a new dishwasher. The one we have is very old and finally bit the dust several weeks ago. I hate washing the dishes by hand, especially my baby's bottles. I feel like they get cleaner when they are washed and rinsed in steaming hot water. I end up boiling the bottles and nipples more often.

I would love a new refrigerator that would allow us to actually store something in the freezer besides just popsicles! Oh and a new kitchenaid mixer would be fantastic! A girl can dream!! Thanks for the chance to win!

As a poor graduate student there isn't much that I couldn't use to make my life easier. So glad you were blessed with these things... you deserve it for encouraging us, who you don't even know, to live with Jesus as our focus!Jamiejamie.brewer@yahoo.com

I love your new washer and dryer, Gorgeous!!!I would love a new freezer. Mine is still running (knock on wood) keeping my fingers crossed that it continues until I get money saved for a new one.thanks for the chanceEnjoy!

I would lovelovelove one of those dryers! I can't tell you how many times I've had to remove half of the load that's dry, just to free up some room for the heavier stuff to dry in a SECOND cycle. So annoying. Hope I win - thanks for the chance, Angie! =)

The appliances are beautiful! My husband and I would LOVE a new washer and dryer as we move into our new home next week! We've been living in a basement apartment owned by some great friends and they even supplied us with an all-in-one washer/dryer combo. It only holds 1/2 a regular load, and takes 4 hours to complete, but we can't complain too loudly seeing as we actually have it at our dispense! But how I would love a FULL washer/dryer set -- I'd actually enjoy doing the laundry!

We just bought a new house, and after living with NO DISHWASHER FOR FOUR YEARS, we will finally have one. My life is about to change. A really nice refrigerator and washer and dryer got thrown in along the way. The range and oven are built-in to the island, which I'm super excited about. Unfortunately, we're bringing our old, worn-out microwave along, and I'd have to say...a Samsung microwave might just make my appliance-life complete.

Angie,I just found your blog through Kelly's Korner and I am already addicted to your other blogs. It is such an insiration to read! Thank you!**ALSO, HOW in the world can i win a new washer and dryer?? Mine is from my grandma, and it is so old I have to actually sit on it during the spin cycle so it doesn't jump across the laundry room floor!! I promise!thanks again, runningcarlson.blogspot.com

Love your post! I recently got a new front loading washer and dryer after my old set died, so I COMPLETELY understand! Up until that purchase I would have said a new washer and dryer - they really do make a HUGE difference! Now I think I'd have to go with a stand mixer that otherwise may always be just a dream for me. :-)

Well I do dream of a luxery laundry room, with blue front loading washer/dryer, lots of shelves, cabinets and counter space. But mine still work perfectly fine out in the garage. I am in need of a new toaster oven and microwave.

A washer and dryer would be like Heaven. I hate having to pay for the laundry in our apartment building. When I think of how much it costs over a year, I could have easily bought a washer AND dryer by now. Especially with a baby on the way!

one day... i dream of a washer and dryer that actually dry the clothes! don't get me wrong, we've cleaned vents, and lint traps and all the other things you're supposed to check... but at the end we just get hot clothes that take hours to dry! yep, Angie, this is me being jealous :)

wow, a new washer would be amazing, but since my dishwasher doesn't work, the bottom shelf of my fridge does not keep milk from spoiling and my oven every once in awhile plays dead (after I mix the cake of course)I probably should set a priority for something in the kitchen.

thanks for the fun you are having! I am living viacariously through you

A microwave would SO make my life easier. After my ex lost his mind and the kids and I moved out on our own, money got tight. *Really tight.* And my ex stole our microwave. He has two in his kitchen, and one belonged to me in COLLEGE (not that I'm bitter...oh wait, I totally am). I've learned to get along pretty well without a microwave, and I think it's made me a less lazy cook over the past nine months of microwave-free living. But...POPCORN. Yes, I am willing to admit on the Internet that I want a microwave mostly so I can make popcorn in it. Microwave popcorn is something you don't miss until it's gone, and then MAN do you ever miss it! *Sigh.*

I would absolutely love one of those Rumba vacuum cleaners! I love freshly vacuumed carpet but who has time to do it every day. Plus I have two little dogs who are always tracking stuff in. I could just set it and go!! Hope you're loving your washer and dryer!

You are sooo funny...I love your post about the new washer & dryer! I would LOVE a new over/stove. Mine is rather ancient....came with the house, and the oven is emmitting some awful smoke....of course perhaps that's because it needs cleaned! :)

Having just moved into an apartment which contains my FIRST DISHWASHER OF MY VERY OWN, I have to say the last step in appliance nirvana would be a washer/dryer in my apartment. I've had washer/dryers in the building that I had to share with my neighbors, leading to "it's been two hours do I just take their wet laundry out and do mine?" dilemmas. Plus, I had to pay for it. I did the laundromat, which meant I could wash all my clothing at once but cost more and meant I had to sit there and watch it spin for an hour-and-a-half. When the laundromat near my apartment went out of business, the next closest was particularly ghetto-tastic that never fixed their machines when they broke, leading to a smaller and smaller supply the longer I went there. I would absolutely love to be able to do my apartment for free and at my leisure! One day, one day....

I too have a front loading super-efficient washer and dryer. They are not as fancy as yours and I will admit I really resisted my husband when he wanted to get them but...I love them. They use less water, wash way more and are just wonderful. I too washed almost everything when we got them. How can I be sure the substandard ones that came with the new house really got things clean. Does your dryer have a sensor and stop when things are dry even if there is time left? That is one of my favorite things. We don't get a song when it turns off though. Okay, now that I am done ranting, the one appliance that would make my life better would have to be an oven with two compartments. Now, our current oven is nice and works just fine but when we were house hunting, the kitchens that had a two-compartment oven got be excited. I love to bake and cook and do all things oven-y and would love a two compartment oven.

Oh, how I could use a new washer and dryer! Especially a dryer that could dry a load in one cycle instead of 2 to 3. It just takes so long and these ones you're reviewing sound like a dream. As a working mom, I just don't have a lot of time and I feel like I am always doing laundry. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

those are so awesome! my husband just took a new position as assistant pastor and we bought our first house... it is a wonderful house and we are really blessed, but several appliances need replaced and we can't do it all on our salary... the stove/oven range, the washer, the dryer, and we'd really love a new tv for when we have groups of people over to our house to watch football games! :)

From the looks of the fabric softener still sitting in its place (instead of GONE), I may need a new washer. From the sound (or no sound) of my dryer and the dampness of already dried clothing, I may need a new dryer. Enjoy your new 'babies'...very happy for you!betty.chet@gmail.com

I would so appreciate a new dryer because ours is slowly dying. It takes 2 drying cycles to dry the clothes, which make doing the laundry twice as long! I am a mom of two boys, a pastor's wife and I am recovering from back surgery, so I would be so very grateful for the $200 gift card. Lisa Kirkestheoffice@sdwchurch.org

congratulations on your new life as you've never known before!!i love it!

our home is almost 30 years old &honestly could use ANYTHING new, but a new dishwasher is probably tops on the listthen the oven& stove topwasher dryer...frigshall i continue?thanks for the opportunity :)

Ok, I don't know about Samsung specifically, but my dad installs and repairs washers and dryers (along with about everything else), and he is 100% against front loading washers. He said they don't last and it is next to impossible to find someone that can work on them once they break. He won't even touch them and tells anyone that asks him about them to just by a new one that loads from the top. Lasts longer, and you can get it repaired easier. We live in Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville area) and he doesn't know of anyone around here that will work on them. I'll be interested to see how yours does.

A new washer and dryer would be heaven! All I can do is pray and wish. :o) With my teaching schedule, I am on a limited time for washing & drying! Blessings though--if I can't be the one blessed, just tickled somebody else could be blessed. With a $200 Best Buy gift card, it would take care of all of the MEN'S CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR. AMEN!

Woo Hoo for the Smith/Hamilton family!! I LOVE how much laundry I can do at one time with my Samsung. My set is a little self conscious though, b/c they're plain jane white. But that's just fine b/c my Mama taught me that beauty is on the inside. And it's beautiful thing to see how much fits inside these bad boys!! :)So, I have lots of clean clothes, but my dishwasher doesn't do such a bang up job anymore! She needs to be replaced ASAP. I'm thinking that gift card would come in mighty handy for doing just that!Thanks for the great giveaway!Now go find some more things to wash!! :)